John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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235. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to help alleviate traffic congestion with national traffic flowing between the N4 and N7; his further plans with Transport Infrastructure Ireland to develop a new western Dublin orbital route between the N4 and N7; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30333/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Transport Infrastructure Ireland, in association with South Dublin County Council, undertook and published a N4/N7 Corridor Study earlier this year. This Study assesses future traffic patterns in this area and possible measures to address forecast travel demand. A Western Orbital Route is one of the possible measures examined.

  The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the local authority's own resources supplemented by State road grants, where applicable.  Arising from the arrangements in place in relation to Local Property Tax receipts the four Dublin Councils became self funding for regional and local roads under the main road grant categories from 2015.

  As regards the possible measures identified in the TII/ South County Dublin County Council N4/N7 Corridor Study, the further assessment of options is a matter for the local authority taking into account the National Transport Authority's Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area.  Provision was made in the current Capital Plan for the upgrade of roads in the vicinity of Grange Castle Business Park and my Department is providing grant assistance for that strategic scheme at present. No other strategic projects in that area are included in the Capital Plan.